Does homeopathy work, or is it just placebo nonsense? ( Archived) (42)

Something worth reading about is "oil Pulling". Swishing vegetable oil in your mouth. This has done wonders for my teeth and gums. My dentist was in shock at how my gums actually regained their normal size and how my teeth became a lot whiter.

Thank you for that response, given your research, it re-affirms my own belief that positive thoughts and the power of the mind can “sometimes” overcome and respond to negativity.

But, this belief, has no connection with the administration of homeopathic remedies, other than the placebo effect, which is, and has been well researched.

Fun guy - “It doesn't. There is not medical effect from homeopathic concoctions besides the placebo one you already mentioned. I'm a research scientist working in drug development. So, I do have some credentials on this …”

RFLMAO, Credentials maybe, but from a cracker jack box if you actually believe this. I, and numerous others that I have made concoctions for, would say the same. VERY curious as to which herbals you have any real experience with however. I would be more inclined to believe that you, like all the other money hungry drug companies, that spend a heck of a lot more on promoting their pills than research and development, and yeah, withhold viable medicines if it would mean losing money on another…are just interested in the paycheck, not what is actually the most beneficial.
And might be interesting to know that REAL doctors (the ones who actually care about the welfare of the patient over the chemical kickbacks) are looking to these alternative methods. One even gave me a list of a few to research/experiment with since those nasty little poison pills were only doing harm, not any good.

"But, this belief, has no connection with the administration of homeopathic remedies, other than the placebo effect, which is, and has been well researched. "

That is correct. One cannot underestimate the power of placebo effect. It's truly amazing. The "power of mind" is not a supernatural event though. It just shows how positive attitude can influence brain activity and trigger a cascade of physical changes such as improved immune system (by being less stressed for example) and change in hormonal balance that all affect your overall health.

So, why not go with homeopathy if it can work? Because it's not scientific and it cannot be predicted when and how well it will work. That may be fine if there is no major ailment but can be very dangerous for serious illnesses. Each person reacts very differently depending on their belief. None of this is caused by an actual active ingredient though. Might as well use water with food coloring and say it's the most powerful cure ever ;)

You can insult me as much as you want. I don't get offended by people I do not respect.

I can say to others reading this that the vast majority of scientists who are doing the actual pharmaceutical and medical research are working very hard to help other people and try to make a difference. These people are usually at the bottom of the corporate food chain and don't get anything out of it besides their regular paycheck and the satisfaction from trying to improve other people's lives. This may not always transcend to the very few business people at the top level but those are the exceptions to the rule. Overall a lot of good has been done by pharmaceutical companies.

Business decisions are sometimes made that may not be 100 % in favor of potential patients. But you have to remember that research is very very expensive and not sustainable if no money is comming in. That's the trade-off if you want any benfit at all. People only see how much money they make on one drug or another but forget how many other drug candidates had to be developed concurrently but failed to make it to the approval level or were not very successful once on the market.

Some of the burden also lies on the medical doctors who need to make better diagnoses and not overprescribe drugs for no good reason (e.g., antibiotics).

I don't deny that herbal remedies can be effective. In fact, many pharmaceutical drugs are either synthetic copies or isolated natural products. We were talking about the basically zero concentration of active ingredients in homeopathic treatments. That's not the same as actual herbal therapy.

What's the "power of the mind", if it is not faith or belief that causes brain activity to change the outcome of an illness.

Hope I'm not tooo off thread.

Not off topic, it's "blind" faith that I take issue with, and that includes followers of Catholicism.

Perhaps one could have 'blind faith' in the power of a doorknob. If that person believes it so
strong enough, his belief in that power could change the outcome of an illness. I honestly don't
think God would care what He is called. The important thing is that there is 'passion', belief and faith
that the person is now becoming a well person because of whatever minute 'essence' of whatever herb or solution is being used.

Minute herb or minute solution application is not even really needed if belief, faith and the passion behind it is there.

jmho

I am always and still working on my belief, faith and passion, so I still have to go to the
doctor and get shots and medicine, etc. But to tell you the truth it's been a while since
I've had to go there. Knock on wood.